Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities

TOKYO—Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has secured original equipment approvals from German car makers BMW A.G. and Mercedes-Benz A.G. with its Advan Sport V107 tire on new sport utility vehicles sold in Europe.

BMW has begun specifying its electric-powered iX3 Sports Activity Vehicle with specially developed versions of the Advan Sport V107, while Mercedes-Benz has issued an OE "technical certification" for the tire on the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC.

Yokohama said the versions of the Advan Sport V107 being supplied to BMW for the electric iX3 were developed jointly by BMW and Yokohama, featuring a special compound developed to reduce tire heat generation to an "unprecedented level" that in turn helps lower the tires' rolling resistance, a characteristic Yokohama said is "indispensable" for electric vehicles (EVs).

Built in China, the iX3 is the electrified version of BMW's four-door, five-passenger X3 hatchback. It launched in Europe and Asia in late 2020 equipped with BMW's fifth-generation e-Drive high-voltage battery and electric motor, power electronics and transmission.

BMW claims the iX3 has an operating range of up to 285 miles. It's not available in North America.

The iX3 uses three sizes of the Advan Sport V107: 245/50R19 105W; 245/45R20 103W; and 275/40R20 106W.

In addition, Yokohama has designed a tire profile and tread pattern for a more uniform road-contact pressure, a characteristic the tire maker said contributes to lower noise emission when the vehicle is accelerating. This design input is in line with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's regulation on vehicle noise emissions (UN-ECE R51-03).

Mercedes has certified the Advan Sport V107 in size 255/35ZR21 98Y for the AMG GL 35, a mid-size four-door, five passenger SUV that launched in Europe in late 2019.

YRC said this version was jointly developed with Mercedes-AMG to achieve the "superior" dry and wet performance required by SUVs.

This particular version features a specially developed compound and adjustments to the tread pattern's groove area to help improve wet grip and handling and steering stability.